Bowler&#39;s thumb protector



v March 25, 1958 A. M. RASMUS 2,827,635

BOWLERS THUMB PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 24. 1955 IN VEN TOR.

Adam M/Easmus United States Patent BOWLERS THUMB PROTECTOR Adam M. Rasmus, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 24, 1955, Serial No. 542,185

4 Claims. (Cl. 221) This invention relates to a protector for the thumb of a bowler using a ball having a thumb hole and one or more finger holes.

A common complaint of bowlers arises from the friction of the inner side of the thumb at the joint, resulting in blistering and soreness.

It is a salient object of the invention to provide a protector adapted to be worn on the thumb in a position to protect it from the complaint above referred to.

Another object is to provide a thumb protector 'of the character mentioned which is equally adapted for use with the right and left thumbs.

A further object is to provide a thumb protector which is sufiiciently thin not to interfere with the fit and comfort of the thumb in the hole of the ball.

It is also an object to provide a thumb protector which will shield the thumb at the inner side of the joint thereof from contact With the ball.

Another object is to provide a thumb protector which will allow air to circulate to the protected part of the thumb.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. l is an elevational view showing a protector embodying features of the invention, applied to a bowlers right thumb.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. l but shows the protector applied to the left thumb of a bowler.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the back of Fig. 2, on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a right side elevational view of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, disclosing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is shown at a thumb protector comprising a flexible tubular sheath 12 and tie means 14 extending from the sheath and adapted to be secured about the hand or wrist to hold the sheath in proper position. The sheath 12 is air-pervious and may comprise an outer layer 16, an inner layer or lining 1S, and an intermediate layer 20, all layers being tubular. The layers 16 and 18 are stitched together as at 22 at the ends 24 and 26 of the sheath 12, and the layer is stitched therewith at the end 24 and at the crotch of the end 26, and is stitched as at 28 only to the layer 18 beyond the crotch. The layers 16 and 13 are preferably formed of limp air-pervious woven or otherwise formed cotton, nylon, or other suitable thin material, and may be seamless, but, if seamed, are seamed longitudinally, as indicated at 30 and 31, respectively, in substantially spaced relation to the sides 32 and 34 of the sheath, so that neither seam will be located between the inner side and the adjacent part of the wall defining the thumb hole in the ball. The intermediate layer 20 is perforated as indicated at 38 and is preferably formed 2,827,635 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 or thin flexible seamless rubber, latex, olyethylene or other suitable" material which is preferably smooth on both faces. The combined thickness of the" layers defining the sheath is on the order of about .01" so that, when in place about the thumb, the sheath will not interfere with proper fit and use of the sheathed thumb in the thumb hole of the ball. The showing of the thicknesses of the layers in Figs. 3 and 4 is exaggerated.

It will be noted that, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the same protector 10 is equally usable with the right and left thumbs. The air-pervious character of the several layers assures circulation of air to the sheathed thumb. The thumb and inner layer 18 move as one, and the pressure of the thumb causes the inner layer to move with or slide somewhat relative to the intermediate layer 20, so that in either event the thumb is not subject to friction. By providing an open outer end 24, air circulation is promoted. However, if desired, the outer end of the sheath could be made closed to enclose the outer end of the thumb.

The thumb hole in the ball should be comfortably loose, and will be so when the sheath is worn, due to the thinness of the sheath wall. When a ball is designed for a bowler, allowance is made for a slight swelling of the thumb, which usually occurs as one bowls. Such swelling will be minimized or obviated when the protector is used. The portion of the thumb, used bare, which is affected by the friction is generally in the form of an elongated oval extending lengthwise of the inner side of the thumb with the inner end of the thumb joint substantially at the center. That portion, protected by the sheath 12.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

1. A bowlers thumb protector for use with a bowling ball, said bowling ball having a thumbhole and one or more finger holes, said protector comprising: a laminate thumb receiving sheath for enveloping a bowlers thumb and being made of relatively thin material so as to be adapted to fit within the thumb hole of a bowling ball when placed over the bowlers thumb, said laminate sheath having at least two secured-together contacting lamina which, in the portions thereof which are to cover the region of the inner side of the thumb adjacent the outermost joint, are relatively movable, an innermost surface which is to contact the users thumb and an outermost surface which is to contact the defining walls of the thumb hole of the bowling ball, at least one of the mutually contacting surfaces of said relatively movable lamina being relatively smooth so as to be adapted to slide relatively easily along the other of same, and said innermost and outermost sheath surfaces respectively being adapted to slide less easily along the skin of the bowlers thumb and the defining walls of said bowling ball" thumb hole than said mutually contacting surfaces of said relatively movable lamina slide with respect to one another, whereby the inner portion of said sheath will move with respect to the outer portion thereof as the user releases his grip on the bowling ball during delivery thereof, to minimize the irritation of the thumb.

2. The thumb protector of claim 1 wherein the sheath is perforated throughout its thickness and length so that air can readily reach the users thumb.

3. The thumb protector of claim 1 wherein the laminate sheath has an intermediate lamina sandwiched imit will be observed, is amply 'medi'ately between a pair of lamina, and said intermediate lamina being smooth surfaced on both sides to slide relatively freely on the inner surfaces of said pair of lamina.

4. The thumb protector of claim 1 wherein there is provided means for holdingthe thumb protector on the bowlers thumb comprising tie means for anchoring the protector around the users wrist.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Levy July 3, 1955 

